Information processing apparatus with antenna switching function, communication apparatus, antenna switching control unit, antenna switching control program, and computer-readable recording medium recording the same program

ABSTRACT

In an information processing apparatus such as a notebook type personal computer having radio communication functions, for communication units to simultaneously carry out transmission/reception independently of each other without increasing the number of antennas, and for sufficiently utilizing a diversity function in the case of only a portion of the communication units, there are provided antennas, communication units capable of carrying out radio communications through the use of the antennas, respectively, and a switching unit for switching connection states between the antennas and the communication units. When radio communications are simultaneously made through the use of all the communication units, the switching unit establishes connections between the communication units and the antennas while, when radio communication is made through the use of the communication unit, the switching unit connects the antennas, the number of which depends on communication modes of the communication unit, with this communication unit.

This application is a divisional of Ser. No. 11/249,368 filed Oct. 14,2005, which is a continuation under 35 USC 111(a) of InternationalApplication PCT/JP2003/004896, filed Apr. 17, 2003, the disclosures ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a technique suitable for use ininformation processing apparatus such as a notebook type personalcomputer having a plurality of radio communication functions [forexample, Bluetooth (registered trademark) and radio LAN (Wireless LocalArea Network; W-LAN)].

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

In general, in a case in which a radio communication apparatus or thelike is equipped with a plurality of communication units havingdifferent communication modes, each of antennas is provided for eachcommunication unit and the plurality of communication units are made tosimultaneously carry out the transmission/reception independently ofeach other, or the plurality of communication units are made to shareone set of antennas and only one communication unit to be put to use isconnected to the antennas (for example, the following patent document 1and the following patent document 2). In the case of the latter method,difficulty is experienced in making the plurality of communication unitssimultaneously carry out the transmission/reception independently ofeach other.

Furthermore, in the recent years, a portable information processingapparatus, for example a notebook type personal computer (sometimeshereinafter to as a notebook personal computer) may be equipped withradio LAN (2.4-GHz band) having a two-antenna diversity function as aradio communication function. In the case of the radio LAN communicationfunction, for a high radiation characteristic, for example, as shown inFIG. 6, two antennas 101 and 102 are internally placed at a positionkeeping a satisfactory line-of-sight distance from the apparatus,concretely, on both the right and left sides of an upper portion of adisplay unit [LCD (Liquid Crystal Panel) panel] 100 a of a notebookpersonal computer 100. The notebook personal computer 100 shown in FIG.6 has two housings (display unit 100 a including a display panel and amain body 100 b including a keyboard and others), and these housings areconnected through a hinge (not shown) to each other to be rotatable sothat the notebook personal computer 100 is foldable owing to the hinge.

Still furthermore, in the recent years, it is desirable that, inaddition to the radio communication function, the notebook personalcomputer has the Bluetooth (2.4-GHz band). For the radio LANcommunication function having the two-antenna diversity function and theBluetooth communication function to be used independently of each other,there is a need to prepare an antenna for the radio LAN and an antennafor the Bluetooth separately. That is, there is a need to prepare threeantennas independently in the notebook personal computer.

In a case in which, in the notebook personal computer 100, an antenna103 for the Blue tooth is further provided in addition to the radio LANantennas 101 and 102, it can be considered to employ a method in whichthe antenna 103 internally disposed at an intermediate position betweenthe antennas 101 and 102 in an upper portion of the display unit 100 aof the personal computer 100 as shown in FIG. 7 and a method in whichthe antenna 103 is internally provided in the main body 100 b side ofthe personal computer 100 as shown in FIG. 8.

In this connection, the following patent documents 3 and 4 disclose acommon diversity communication function to be used for a radiocommunication apparatus in a base station or the like instead of aportable information processing apparatus.

Meanwhile, for obtaining the effects of the diversity functioneffectively, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, there is a need to locate theradio LAN antennas 101 and 102 having the diversity function in areashaving a high reception efficiency in a state separated from each other.In FIGS. 6 to 8, the distance between the antennas 101 and 102 isindicated by L2.

Moreover, the location where the Bluetooth antenna 103 is mountable islimited to the interior of a housing of the notebook personal computer100 and, for attaining a high reception efficiency and an excellentantenna radiation characteristic, as shown in FIG. 7, usually, it isconsidered that an upper portion of the display unit 100 a isappropriate, because it can make an excellent line-of sight distancefrom the apparatus. Incidentally, the Bluetooth and the radio LAN usethe same frequency band (2.4-GHz band) and sometimes carry out thecommunication operations at the same time.

In a case in which the physical distance L1 among the antennas 101 to103 is short, an electric wave emitted from the Bluetooth antenna 103are intensively received by the radio LAN antennas 101 and 102. In thiscase, noises appears in the radio LAN communication apparatus, and, withrespect to a signal to be actually received by the radio LANcommunication apparatus, the signal/noise ratio deteriorate, which canconsiderably degrade the communication performance.

The prevention of such considerable degradation of the communicationperformance requires at least a distance of about 20 cm between theradio LAN antennas 101, 102 and the Bluetooth antenna 103. However, thewidth of a common notebook personal computer depends upon the width ofan LCD panel in the display unit 100 a and is approximately 25 cm.

Accordingly, for putting two types of radio apparatuses in a notebookpersonal computer within this determined width while preventing thedegradation of the signal/noise ratio, only two antennas can be built inan upper portion of the LCD panel.

In a case in which each of the two types of radio apparatuses occupiesthe two antennas, the radio LAN communication apparatus cannot use thediversity function, and the communication performance of the radio LANcommunication apparatus extremely deteriorates according to receptionenvironments.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 8, in a case in which the Bluetooth antenna103 is internally provided in the main body 100 b side of the notebookpersonal computer 100, although the physical distance L1 which canprevent the considerable degradation of the communication performance issecurable between the antenna 103 and the radio LAN antenna 102, whenthe notebook personal computer 100 is put on a desk, the Bluetoothantenna 103 cannot exhibit a sufficient communication performance(communication distance) because it receives a great influence of thematerial of the desk. In particular, in the case of a notebook personalcomputer of a type brought into various places for use, the thicknessreduction of the apparatus is desirable and, in most cases, the mainbody 100 b is designed to have a small thickness. Therefore, in the caseof this type of notebook personal computer, this influence becomesnoticeable when the antenna 103 is internally provided in the main body100 b, which practically makes it difficult to mount the antenna 103 inthe main body 100 b. In FIG. 8, the distance between the antenna 103 andthe desk is indicated by h1.

As mentioned above, for making the plurality of communication unitssimultaneously carry out the transmission/reception independently ofeach other, usually, there is a need to prepare each of antennasindependently for each communication unit and, for example, in the caseof an apparatus equipped with the Bluetooth and a radio LAN having adiversity function, at least three antennas become necessary. That is,in the case of the employment of the radio communication function havingthe diversity function, the number of antennas is larger than the numberof communication units (communication modes) of the apparatus.

However, as mentioned above with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, for theantennas to exhibit an excellent radiation characteristic, the placewhere the antennas can be located/mounted is extremely limited in theinterior of the housing of the apparatus, and an increase in the numberof antennas is extremely demeritorious for the size reduction of aninformation processing apparatus such as a notebook personal computer.

The present invention has been developed in consideration of thesesituations, and it is an object of the invention to, in a case in whicha communication unit based on a different communication mode is providedin addition to a communication unit having, for example, a diversityfunction, making a plurality of communication units simultaneously carryout the transmission/reception independently of each other withoutincreasing the number of antennas (for example, while equalizing thenumber of communication units with the number of antennas) and furtherto utilize the diversity function sufficiently when a portion of thecommunication units are not put to use. A further object thereof is torealize the size reduction of an apparatus having a plurality of radiocommunication functions.

Patent Document 1

-   -   Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. HEI 9-18397

Patent Document 2

-   -   Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. HEI 9-116458

Patent Document 3

-   -   Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. HEI 10-229359

Patent Document 4

-   -   Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-91970

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For achieving the above-mentioned purposes, an information processingapparatus with an antenna switching function according to the presentinvention is characterized by comprising a plurality of antennas, aplurality of communication units each made to carry out a radiocommunication and a switching unit made to switch connection statesbetween the plurality of antennas and the plurality of communicationunits, when radio communications are simultaneously made through the useof the plurality of communication units, the switching unit makingconnections between the plurality of communication units and theplurality of antennas and, when radio communications are made throughthe use of a portion of the plurality of communication units, makingconnections between the antennas, the number of which depends oncommunication modes of the communication units made to carry out theradio communications, and these communication units.

In addition, an information processing apparatus with an antennaswitching function according to the present invention is characterizedby comprising a plurality of antennas, a plurality of communicationunits each made to carry out a radio communication, a switching unitmade to switch connection states between the plurality of antennas andthe plurality of communication units and a switching control unit forcontrolling the switching unit to switch the connection states, with atleast one of the plurality of communication units having a diversityfunction whereby the plurality of antennas are controllable, and theswitching control unit controlling the switching unit so that theantennas other than the antenna to be used by the communication unithaving the diversity function are connected to the communication unitsother than this communication unit.

A communication apparatus with an antenna switching function accordingto the present invention comprises a plurality of antennas and aplurality of communication units each made to carry out a radiocommunication, and is characterized in that a switching unit is providedto switch connection states between the plurality of antennas and theplurality of communication units and, when the radio communications aresimultaneously made through the use of the plurality of communicationunits, the switching unit makes connections between the plurality ofcommunication units and the plurality of antennas and, when the radiocommunications are made through the use of a portion of the plurality ofcommunication units, the switching unit makes connection between theantennas, the number of which depends on communication modes of thecommunication units made to carry out the radio communications, andthese communication units.

Moreover, a communication apparatus with an antenna switching functionaccording to the present invention comprises a plurality of antennas anda plurality of communication units each made to carry out a radiocommunication, and is characterized by further comprising a switchingunit for switching connection states between the plurality of antennasand the plurality of communication units and a switching control unitfor controlling the switching unit to switch the connection states,wherein at least one of the plurality of communication units has adiversity function whereby the plurality of antennas are controllableand the switching control unit controls the switching unit so that theantennas other than the antenna to be used by the communication unithaving the diversity function are connected to the communication unitsother than this communication unit.

An antenna switching control unit according to the present invention,which is used for an apparatus comprising a plurality of antennas, aplurality of communication units each made to carry out a radiocommunication and a switching unit made to switch connection statesbetween the plurality of antennas and the plurality of communicationunits and which is made to control the switching unit to switch theconnection state, is characterized by controlling the switching unit sothat, when the radio communications are simultaneously made through theuse of the plurality of communication units, the switching unit makesconnections between the plurality of communication units and theplurality of antennas and, when the radio communications are madethrough the use of a portion of the plurality of communication units,the switching unit makes connection between the antennas, the number ofwhich depends on communication modes of the communication units made tocarry out the radio communications, and these communication units.

Furthermore, an antenna switching control unit according to the presentinvention, which is used for an apparatus comprising a plurality ofantennas, a plurality of communication units each made to carry out aradio communication and a switching unit made to switch connectionstates between the plurality of antennas and the plurality ofcommunication units and which is made to control the switching unit toswitch the connection states, is characterized by controlling theswitching unit so that the antennas other than the antenna to be used bythe communication unit having the diversity function whereby theplurality of antennas are controllable are connected to thecommunication units other than this communication unit.

An antenna switching control program according to the present invention,which makes a computer function as an antenna switching control unit to,in an apparatus comprising a plurality of antennas, a plurality ofcommunication units each made to carry out a radio communication and aswitching unit made to switch connection states between the plurality ofantennas and the plurality of communication units, control the switchingunit to switch the connection states, is characterized by making thecomputer control the switching unit so that, when the radiocommunications are simultaneously made through the use of the pluralityof communication units, the switching unit makes connections between theplurality of communication units and the plurality of antennas and, whenthe radio communications are made through the use of a portion of theplurality of communication units, the switching unit makes connectionbetween the antennas, the number of which depends on communication modesof the communication units made to carry out the radio communications,and these communication units.

In addition, an antenna switching control program according to thepresent invention, which makes a computer function as an antennaswitching control unit to, in an apparatus comprising a plurality ofantennas, a plurality of communication units each made to carry out aradio communication and a switching unit made to switch connectionstates between the plurality of antennas and the plurality ofcommunication units, control the switching unit to switch the connectionstates, is characterized by making the computer control the switchingunit so that the antennas other than the antenna to be used by thecommunication unit having the diversity function whereby the pluralityof antennas are controllable are connected to the communication unitsother than this communication unit.

Furthermore, a computer-readable recording medium according to thepresent invention is for recording the above-mentioned antenna switchingcontrol programs.

According to the present invention described above, when radiocommunications are simultaneously made through the use of the pluralityof communication units, the plurality of communication units and theplurality of antennas are connected to each other, and when the radiocommunications are made through the use of a portion of the plurality ofcommunication units, the antennas, the number of which depends on acommunication mode (for example, a radio LAN having a diversityfunction) of the communication units made to carry out the radiocommunication, are connected to these communication units. Therefore, ina case in which, for example, a communication unit according to adifferent communication mode (for example, Bluetooth) is provided inaddition to the communication unit having the diversity function, thenumber of communication units is equalized with the number of antennasand, without increasing the number of antennas, the plurality ofcommunication units can simultaneously carry out thetransmissions/receptions independently of each other, and the sufficientutilization of the diversity function becomes feasible when a portion ofthe communication units are not put to use. Therefore, this can furtherrealize a further size reduction of an apparatus (for example,information processing apparatus such as notebook personal computer)having a plurality of radio communication functions including radio LANhaving the diversity function.

Moreover, the employment of the switching control unit (functionobtained when a computer executes the antenna switching control program)enables the automatic control on the antenna switching condition andfurther enables the antenna switching (manual switching) according toswitching instruction information inputted from an inputting device byan operator. In particular, in a case in which the operator inputs theswitching instruction information, when a design is made such that theelectric wave reception state in a communication unit which is using anantenna is offered to the operator, an antenna in use is preventablefrom being switched in error so that the communication falls into adisconnected state.

Still moreover, when the antennas other than the antenna used by thecommunication unit having the diversity function whereby a plurality ofantennas are controllable are connected to the communication units otherthan that communication unit, an excellent radiation characteristic issecurable at all times in the communication unit (for example, radioLAN) having the diversity function, and the other communication unit(for example, Bluetooth) can carry out the radio communication whilepreventing the degradation of the performance due to the deteriorationof the communication quality.

Yet moreover, in a case in which the present invention is applied to anotebook personal computer in designed such that a display unitincluding a display panel, which is a movable-side housing, and a mainbody including a keyboard, which is a fixed-side housing, are rotabablyconnected to be foldable, when a plurality of antennas are internallyprovided in an upper portion of the display unit, the antennas arelocated at a high position which can make a satisfactory line-of-sightdistance while the computer is in use. Accordingly, in a case in which,for example, the Bluetooth and a radio LAN having a two-antennadiversity function are employed as a communication mode, a sufficientphysical distance is securable and, through the use of the two antennasbuilt in the upper portion of the display unit, particularly at the useof the Bluetooth, a sufficient communication performance (communicationdistance) is attainable without receiving the influence of the materialof a desk or the like while preventing the deterioration of thesignal/noise ratio.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an informationprocessing apparatus (communication apparatus) having an antennaswitching function according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an example of a switching/setting screen ofa communication apparatus (antenna) according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining an antenna switching controlprocedure in the information processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an informationprocessing apparatus (communication apparatus) having an antennaswitching function according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining an antenna switching controlprocedure in the information processing apparatus shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an illustrative perspective view for explaining a commonnotebook type personal computer and an antenna disposition state in theembodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are illustrative perspective views for explaining antennadisposition states in a common notebook type personal computer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinbelow withreference to the drawings.

[1] Description of First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an informationprocessing apparatus having an antenna switching function according to afirst embodiment of the present invention. A notebook personal computer(information processing apparatus, communication apparatus) 100Aaccording to the first embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, is made up of atleast a CPU 1, an inputting device 2, a display device 3, a Bluetoothradio communication unit 4, a radio LAN communication unit 5, antennas6, 7 and an antenna change-over switch 8.

As well as the notebook personal computer 100 shown in FIG. 6, thenotebook personal computer 100A according to the first embodiment alsocomprises two housings (display unit 100 a including a display panel,which is a movable side housing, and a main body 100 b including akeyboard and others, which is a fixed side housing), with these housingsbeing connected through a hinge to each other to be rotatable and madeto be foldable owing to the hinge. In addition, also in the notebookpersonal computer 100A, as well as the notebook personal computer 100shown in FIG. 6, two antennas 6 and 7 are internally placed at aposition keeping a satisfactory line-of-sight distance from theapparatus, concretely, on both the right and left sides of an upperportion of the display unit 100 a (display device 3) of the notebookpersonal computer 100A. In this connection, a Bluetooth communicationdevice 4, a radio LAN communication device 5 and an antenna change-overswitch 8, which will be mentioned later, are disposed within the mainbody 100 b. Moreover, an antenna line 16, which is connected to theantenna change-over switch 8, and a second RF signal line (antenna line)15 for radio LAN, which is connected to a diversity change-over switch 5c internally provided in the radio LAN communication device 5, aredisposed in the display unit 100 a and respectively connected to the twoantennas 6 and 7 located in the same unit 100 a.

The CPU (Central Processing Unit; processing apparatus) 1 is designed tocontrol/manage the notebook personal computer 100A while executingvarious types of programs and fulfills characteristic functionsaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention, i.e.,functions as a switching control unit and a reception state providingmeans, described later.

The inputting device 2 is manipulated by an operator and functions as aninputting unit to input switching instruction information, mentionedlater, to the CPU 1 and, for example, it is made up of a keyboard and amouse.

The display unit 3 is for displaying various types of screens undercontrol of display states by the CPU 1 and, for example, in the firstembodiment, fulfills a function to display a switching/setting screen 3Awhich will be mentioned later with reference to FIG. 2 and furtherfulfills a function to, in cooperation with the function as thereception state providing means of the CPU 1, display a reception stateof an electric wave for offering the reception state to the operator.For example, it is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display).

The Bluetooth communication device (communication unit) 4 is connectedthrough a control signal line 11A to the CPU 1 and further connectedthrough a Bluetooth RF signal line 13, the antenna change-over switch 8and the antenna line 16 to the antenna 6 for carrying out radio datacommunications based on the Bluetooth through the antenna 6 inaccordance with a control signal from the CPU 1. Incidentally, thecontrol signal line 11A is a USB (Universal Serial Bus) forming ageneral-purpose serial bus according to a 2-line parallelismtransmission channel method, while each of the Bluetooth RF signal line13 and the antenna line 16 forms one coaxial line.

In the case of the data transmission processing using the antenna 6,this Bluetooth communication device 4 receives transmitted data from theCPU 1 through the general-purpose serial bus 11A and converts the datainto a communication protocol, prescribed in the Bluetooth communicationstandard, according to a microprogram included therein and then carriesout the encoding processing for converting it into an RF signal throughthe use of a built-in radio device and outputting to the Bluetooth RFsignal line 13. Moreover, for the data reception processing using theantenna 6, the Bluetooth communication device 4 receives an RF signalfrom the antenna 6 through the Bluetooth RF signal line 13, and convertsit into a digital signal through the use of the aforesaid radio deviceand then carries out the decoding processing for processing the decodeddata into a state, the CPU 1 can recognize, according to a protocolthrough the use of the aforesaid microprogram and transmitting itthrough the control signal line 11A to the CPU 1.

The radio LAN communication device (communication unit having adiversity function) 5 is connected through a control signal line 11B tothe CPU 1 and fixedly connected through the radio LAN second RF signalline (antenna line) 15 to the antenna 7 and further connected through aradio LAN first RF signal line 14, the antenna change-over switch 8 andthe antenna line 16 to the antenna 6 so as to enableconnection/disconnection to/from the antenna 6 so that radio datacommunications can be made through the antenna 6 or 7 in accordance witha control signal from the CPU 1. Incidentally, the control signal line11B is a PCI bus (Peripheral Component Interconnect) composed of a32-bit-width data signal line and a command signal line, while each ofthe radio LAN first RF signal line 14 and the radio LAN second RF signalline (antenna line) 15 is one coaxial line.

This radio LAN communication device 5 is made up of a radio LANcommunication control unit 5 a, a transceiver 5 b for makingtransmission/reception under control of the radio LAN communicationcontrol unit 5 b and a diversity change-over switch 5 c under theswitching control of the same radio LAN communication control unit 5 a.The transceiver 5 b and the diversity change-over switch 5 c areconnected through a reception signal line 17 and a transmission signalline 18 to each other, and each of the signal lines 17 and 18 is onecoaxial line.

In the case of the data transmission processing using the antenna 6 or7, the radio LAN communication device 5 receives transmitted data fromthe CPU 1 through the control signal line 11B and converts it into acommunication protocol, prescribed in the IEEE802.11a/b communicationstandard (Institute of Electronic and Electronics Engineers), accordingto a microprogram internally included in the radio LAN communicationcontrol unit 5 a and, after the conversion thereof into an RF signal inthe transceiver 5 b, outputs the converted RF signal to the transmissionsignal line 18. For the data reception processing using the antenna 6 or7, the radio LAN communication device 5 receives an RF signal from theantenna 6 or 7 through the reception signal line 17 and converts it intoa digital signal through the use of the transceiver 5 b and, after thedecoding processing, processes the decoded data into a state, the CPU 1can recognize, according to a protocol through the use of a microprograminternally included in the radio LAN communication control unit 5 a fortransmitting it through the control signal line 11B to the CPU 1.

The diversity change-over switch 5 c selects one of the two antennas 6and 7, which has a lower reception/transmission error rate, and carriesout a switching connection between the selected antenna 6 or 7 and thetransceiver 5 b.

In this case, an RX terminal and a TX terminal in the diversitychange-over switch 5 are connected through the reception signal line 17and the transmission signal line 18 to the transceiver 5 b, and anSEL_RX terminal and a SEL_Y1 terminal therein are connected through atransmission/reception switching signal line 19 and a diversityswitching signal line 20 to the radio LAN communication control unit 5a. In addition, the diversity change-over switch 5 c receives, at theSEL_RX terminal, a transmission/reception switching signal from theradio LAN communication control unit 5 a through thetransmission/reception switching signal line 19 to carry out theswitching between transmission and reception in accordance with thereceived transmission/reception switching signal while it receives, atthe SEL_Y1 terminal, a diversity switching signal from the radio LANcommunication control unit 5 a through the diversity switching signalline 20 to carry out the switching between the Y1 terminal (antenna 6)and the Y2 terminal (antenna 7).

Incidentally, the transmission/reception switching signal line 19 andthe diversity switching signal line 20 are for indicating the switchingin the diversity change-over switch 5 c with High (high level)/Low (lowlevel) of a signal, and the diversity change-over switch 5 c makes aconnection between the reception signal line 17 and the antenna when asignal inputted through the transmission/reception switching signal line19 to the SEL-RX terminal shows High, while making a connection betweenthe transmission signal line 18 and the antenna when Low. In addition,the diversity change-over switch 5 c is operated to select the Y1terminal (antenna 6) when a signal shows High on the diversity switchingsignal line 20 while selecting the Y2 terminal (antenna 7) when Low.

When the data received by the antenna shows a poor error rate or a poorreception sensitivity, the radio LAN communication control unit 5 acarries out the control to make the switching to the other antennathrough the use of a diversity switching signal. When this controlalways takes place, the antenna having a good state is selected at alltimes.

However, in the diversity change-over switch 5 c according to thisembodiment, the Y1 terminal is connected through the radio LAN first RFsignal line 14, the antenna change-over switch 8 and the antenna line 16to the antenna 6 to enable the connection/disconnection, while the Y2terminal is fixedly connected directly through the radio LAN second RFsignal line (antenna line) 15 to the antenna 7. Accordingly, in a casein which the antenna change-over switch 8, mentioned later, is in theswitched state to the radio LAN (terminal B) side, the radio LANcommunication device 5 carries out the radio data communication whileselecting one of the antennas 6 and 7, which shows a lowerreception/transmission error rate, through the use of the diversityfunction, and when the antenna change-over switch 8, mentioned later, isin the switched state to the Bluetooth (terminal A) side, since theradio LAN communication device 5 receives an electric wave from only theantenna 7, the switching control is automatically implemented accordingto a microprogram internally included in the radio LAN communicationcontrol unit 5 a so that the diversity change-over switch 5 c isconnected to only the antenna 7.

The antenna change-over switch (switching unit) 8 is for carrying outthe switching connection of the antenna 6 to one of the communicationdevices 4 and 5 and, in this antenna change-over switch 8, the Yterminal is connected through the antenna line 16 to the antenna 6 andthe SEL terminal is connected through the antenna switching signal line12 to the CPU 1, while the A terminal is connected through the BluetoothRF signal line 13 to the Bluetooth communication device 4 and the Bterminal is connected through the radio LAN first RF signal light 14 tothe radio LAN communication device 5.

This antenna change-over switch 8 is designed to, in accordance with anantenna switching signal from the CPU 1, make the switching to one of aconnected state between the A terminal and the Y terminal (state inwhich the Bluetooth communication device 4 is connected to the antenna6) and a connected state between the B terminal and the Y terminal(state in which the radio LAN communication device 5 is connected to theantenna 6). In this connection, the antenna switching signal line 12 isfor giving an instruction on the aforesaid switching to the antennachange-over switch 8 through the use of High (high level)/Low (lowlevel) of a signal, and the antenna change-over switch 8 makes aconnection between the A terminal and the Y terminal when the signalshows High, while it makes a connection between the B terminal and the Yterminal when Low.

In particular, when radio data communications are simultaneously madethrough the use of both the two communication devices 4 and 5 (in thecase of the use of the Bluetooth communication device 4), the antennachange-over switch 8 according to the first embodiment makes theconnection between the Bluetooth communication device 4 and the antenna6 so that the communication devices 4 and 5 are connected to theantennas 6 and 7, respectively, while, when only the radio LANcommunication device 5 is used without employing the Bluetoothcommunication device 4, it makes the connection between the radio LANcommunication device 5 and the antenna 7 so that the antennas 6, 7, theneeded number (in this case, two) of which is determined in view of therealization of the diversity function, are connected to the radio LANcommunication device 5.

Furthermore, the CPU 1 functions as a switching control unit to switchthe connection state between the antenna 6 and the communication device4, 5 by executing a predetermined antenna switching control program(application program) for controlling the antenna change-over switch 8,and further functions as a reception state providing means to offerinformation on an electric wave reception state of the communicationdevice 4 or 5, which is in use, to the aforesaid operator.

In a case in which the CPU 1 functions as the switching control unit, asmentioned above, when the radio data communications are simultaneouslymade through the use of both the two communication devices 4 and 5 (inthe case of the employment of the Bluetooth communication device 4), theCPU 1 controls the antenna change-over switch 8 so as to make aconnection between the Bluetooth communication device 4 and the antenna6, and when the radio data communication is made using only the radioLAN communication device 5 without employing the Bluetooth communicationdevice 4, the CPU 1 controls the antenna change-over switch 8 so as tomake a connection between the radio LAN communication device 5 and theantenna 7. At this time, the CPU 1 according to the first embodiment ismade to carry out the switching control on the antenna change-overswitch 8 in accordance with switching instruction information(information on whether or not to use the Bluetooth communication device4) inputted through the inputting device 3 by the operator.

In addition, when the operator carries out the on/off-switching/setting(antenna switching instruction) on the Bluetooth communication device 4and the radio LAN communication device 5, the CPU 1 makes the displaydevice 3 display the switching/setting screen 3A shown in FIG. 2 andfunctions as the aforesaid reception state providing means to make thedisplay device 3 display the electric-wave reception states of thecommunication devices 4 and 5 (a state of display on the reception stateis not shown).

Moreover, when referring to the electric-wave reception state and theswitching/setting screen 3A, through the use of a mouse (inputtingdevice 2), the operator click-operates each of a Bluetooth on/off switch(icon; software button on an application) 3 a and a W-LAN on/off switch(icon; a software button on an application) 3 b while making referenceto the electric-wave reception state, thereby enabling theon/off-setting of the Bluetooth communication device 4 or the radio LANcommunication device 5.

A dedicated software (antenna switching control program) for therealization of the functions as the switching control unit and thereception state providing means in the CPU 1 can be presented in a staterecorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as flexible disk,CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW or DVD. In this case, the computer (CPU 1) reads outthe antenna switching control program from this recording medium andtransfers it to an internal storage unit or an external storage unit forthe storage therein. Moreover, it is also appropriate that the antennaswitching control program is recorded in a storage unit (recordingmedium) such as magnetic disk, optical disk or magneto optical disk andthen offered from this storage unit through a communication line to thecomputer (CPU 1). Although in this description the antenna switchingcontrol program from a storage medium outside a computer is stored in astorage unit within the computer, it is also acceptable that the antennaswitching control program is previously stored in a storage unit withinthe computer at the shipment from a factory.

In this case, the computer is a concept including a hardware and an OS(operating system) and signifies a hardware operating under control ofthe OS. Moreover, in a case in which the OS is unnecessary and thehardware is operated by an application program itself, the hardwareitself corresponds to the computer. The hardware has at least amicroprocessor such as a CPU and a means for reading out a computerprogram recorded in a recording medium. An application program as theaforesaid antenna switching control program includes a program code formaking a computer, such as mentioned above, realize the switchingcontrol unit and reception state providing means. Still moreover, it isalso acceptable that a portion of the functions is realized by the OSinstead of the application program.

In addition, as the recording medium in this embodiment, it is alsopossible to employ, in addition to the above-mentioned flexible disk,CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, magnetic disk, optical disk and magnetooptical disk, various types of computer-readable mediums including an ICcard, ROM cartridge, magnetic tape, punch card, internal storage unit(memory such as RAM or ROM) of a computer, external storage unit andcode-printed matters such as bar code.

A description will be given hereinbelow of an operation of the notebookpersonal computer 100A thus configured according to the firstembodiment.

As described above, the notebook personal computer 100A according to thefirst embodiment is equipped with communication devices (the Bluetoothcommunication device 4 and the radio LAN communication device 5) basedon two types of communication modes different from each other and twoantennas 6 and 7 independent of each other, with one (in this case, theRF signal line 15) of the two RF signal lines 14 and 15 for the radioLAN communication device 5 having 2 diversity functions being fixedlyconnected directly to the antenna 7. Moreover, the other RF signal line14 and the RF signal line of the Bluetooth communication device 4 areswitching-connected through the antenna change-over switch 8 to theantenna 6 and only one of the RF signal lines (only one of thecommunication devices 4 and 5) is connected through the antennachange-over switch 8 to the antenna 6.

In addition, in the notebook personal computer 100A according to thefirst embodiment, by an operation using the inputting device 2, theantenna change-over switch 8 can be operated through an applicationprogram (antenna switching control program) operating on the OSinternally included in the notebook personal computer 100A. That is, theoperator of the notebook personal computer 100A manipulates, through theinputting device 2, a software button (the Bluetooth on/off switch 3 ain the switching/setting screen 3A) on an application for selection onwhether or not to use the Bluetooth communication device 4, thusswitching the antenna change-over switch 8 so that, in the case of theuse of the Bluetooth communication device 4, the radio LAN communicationdevice 5 is used in a single antenna mode while, in the case of no useof the Bluetooth communication device 4, only the radio LANcommunication device 5 is operated in a diversity mode. Therefore, theoperator can arbitrarily select one of the single antenna mode and thediversity mode and perform the switching thereto.

When both the two communication devices 4 and 5 are used at the sametime, the operator sets the Bluetooth on/off switch 3 a at the on-statein the switching/setting screen 3A, shown in FIG. 2, through theinputting device 2. Accordingly, through the function as the switchingcontrol unit in the CPU 1, the antenna change-over switch 8 is switchedso that the Bluetooth communication device 4 and the antenna 6 areconnected to each other. This enables that the Bluetooth communicationunit 4 carries out the radio data communication through the use of theantenna 6 and, simultaneously with this, the radio LAN communicationdevice 5 carries out the radio data communication through the use ofonly the antenna 7.

However, for the simultaneous use of the two communication units 4 and5, the radio LAN communication device 5 can use only the antenna 7 anddifficulty is experienced in performing the switching-use of theantennas 6 and 7 by the diversity function and, hence, the communicablecovering range of the radio LAN communication device 5 is limited by theradiation characteristic of the antenna 7 and the problem on thecommunication distance stemming from the wavelength. Accordingly, in thecase of no use of the Bluetooth communication device 4, the antennachange-over switch 8 is switched to the radio LAN side so that theantenna 6 is connected to the radio LAN communication device 5. Thisswitching can manually be performed through the switching/setting screen3A in a manner that the operator uses the inputting device 2, or it canautomatically be carried out through the use of the function as theswitching control unit in the CPU 1 as will be mentioned later.

In the state of the connection between the antenna 6 and the radio LANcommunication device 5, the radio LAN communication device 5 can receivean electric wave through the use of both the antennas 6 and 7.Therefore, the radio LAN communication control unit 5 a automaticallyswitching-controls the diversity change-over switch 5 c to realize thediversity function for carrying out the radio data communication whileselecting the antenna 6 or 7 which can produce a satisfactory receptionstate, thereby enlarging the communicable covering range of the radioLAN communication device 5.

Furthermore, in a case in which the operator manipulates the on/offswitches 3 a and 3 b on the switching/setting screen 3A for giving anantenna switching instruction like the first embodiment, there is apossibility that the radio LAN communication device 4 disconnects theantenna 6, which is in use, in error and makes a connection to theBluetooth communication device 4 so that the radio LAN communicationdevice 5 falls into a communication cut-off state. For preventing this,in the first embodiment, at least an electric-wave reception statestemming from the radio LAN communication device 5 is displayed on thedisplay device 3 through the use of the function as the reception stateproviding means in the CPU 1, thereby providing, to the operator, theinformation on whether or not a problem exists when the connection stateof the antenna 6 is switched for using the Bluetooth communicationdevice 4.

According to a flow chart (steps S11 to S15) of a flow chart of FIG. 3,a brief description will be given of an antenna switching controlprocedure (operations of the switching control unit and the receptionstate providing means to be realized when the CPU 1 executes the antennaswitching control program) in the notebook personal computer 100A shownin FIG. 1.

Upon receipt of a request for the switching/section of the communicationdevices 4 and 5 (that is, switching/section of the antennas 6 and 7)from the operator, the CPU 1 first makes the display device 3 displayelectric-wave reception states in the communication devices 4 and 5 (inparticular, the radio LAN communication device 5) and makes the displaydevice 3 displays the switching/selection screen 3A shown in FIG. 2(step S11).

When referring to the electric-wave reception state and theswitching/setting screen 3A, through the use of a mouse (inputtingdevice 2), the operator click-operates each of the Bluetooth on/offswitch 3 a and the W-LAN on/off switch 3 b while making reference to theelectric-wave reception state, thereby carrying out the on/off-settingof the Bluetooth communication device 4 or the radio LAN communicationdevice 5.

In accordance with this setting operation, the CPU 1 checks the on/offstate of the Bluetooth on/off switch 3 a (step S12) and, if it is in theon-state (YES route from step S13), switches the antenna change-overswitch 8 to the Bluetooth side so as to establish a connection betweenthe antenna 6 and the Bluetooth communication device 4 (step S14) and,on the other hand, if it is in the off-state (NO route from step S13),switches the antenna change-over switch 8 to the radio LAN side so as toestablish a connection between the antenna 6 and the radio LANcommunication device 5 (step S15).

Also in a state before the operation of the antenna switching controlprogram (application program) made to operate on the OS, or in the caseof the absence of the antenna switching control program, that is, if theantenna switching control program is in a non-activated condition, aBIOS (Basic Input/Output System) internally included in the CPU 1fulfills a function to make a static connection of the antennachange-over switch 8 to one of the communication devices 4 and 5according to a state of its own setup menu so that the Bluetooth device4 is available, thus realizing a function whereby the normal operationis feasible even before the install of the antenna switching controlprogram.

As described above, with the notebook personal computer (portableinformation processing apparatus) 100A according to the first embodimentof the present invention, when radio data communications aresimultaneously made through the use of both the communication devices 4and 5, the antenna change-over switch 8 is switched to the Bluetoothside so that the communication devices 4 and 5 are connected to theantennas 6 and 7, respectively, thus enabling the radio datacommunications to be simultaneously made according to two types ofcommunication modes.

On the other hand, when the radio data communication is made using onlythe radio LAN communication device 5 without using the Bluetoothcommunication device 4, the antenna change-over switch 8 is switched tothe radio LAN side so as to make connections between the radio LANcommunication device 5 and the two antennas 6, 7, thus utilizing thediversity function to enable the radio data communication to be madewhile selecting the antenna 6 or 7 which can provide a satisfactoryreception state.

Accordingly, in the notebook personal computer 100A according to thisembodiment equipped with the radio LAN communication device 5 having thediversity function and the Bluetooth communication device 4, it ispossible to equalize the number of communication devices with the numberof antennas, which enables the two communication devices 4 and 5 tosimultaneously carry out the transmission/reception independently ofeach other without increasing the number of antennas, and further tosufficiently utilize the diversity function of the radio LANcommunication device 5 in the case of no use of the Bluetoothcommunication device 4. This permits further size reduction of thenotebook personal computer 100A equipped with a plurality of radiocommunication functions including the radio LAN having the diversityfunction.

In addition, the notebook personal computer 100A according to the firstembodiment employs the function as the switching control unit in the CPU1, which enables the automatic control on the antenna switching stateand further enables the antenna switching (manual switching) accordingto the switching instruction information inputted through the inputtingdevice 2 by the operator. In particular, when the operator inputs theswitching instruction information through the inputting device 2, thefunction as the reception state providing means in the CPU 1 presents,to the operator, the electric-wave reception state on the communicationdevice 4 or 5 which is using the antenna 6, thereby reliably preventingthe occurrence of a communication cut-off state in the communicationdevice 4 or 5 because of the switching of the antenna 6 in use in error.

Still additionally, in the notebook personal computer 100A according tothe first embodiment, the two antennas 6 and 7 are internally includedin an upper portion of the display unit 100 b and, hence, when thenotebook personal computer 100A is in use, the two antennas 6 and 7 aredisposed at a high position which can provide a satisfactoryline-of-sight distance, and at least a physical distance ofapproximately 20 cm is securable between the two antennas 6 and 7.Therefore, in a case in which, like the this embodiment, the Bluetoothand the radio LAN having two-antenna diversity function are employed ascommunication modes, the two antennas 6 and 7 internally included in anupper portion of the display unit 100 b can be used while keeping asufficient physical distance, which can provide a sufficientcommunication performance (communication distance) without receiving theinfluence of the material of a desk or the like, particularly, at theuse of the Bluetooth while preventing the degradation of thesignal/noise ratio.

Although in the above-described first embodiment the CPU 1 carries outthe switching control on the antenna change-over switch 8 in accordancewith the switching instruction information (information on whether ornot to the Bluetooth communication device 4) inputted through theinputting device 3 by the operator, it is also appropriate that, inaccordance with using situations of the communication devices 4 and 5,the switching control on the antenna change-over switch 8 isautomatically executed through the use of the function as the switchingcontrol unit in the CPU 1. For example, the control can automatically beexecuted through the use of the function as the switching control unitin the CPU 1 so that, only when the Bluetooth communication device 4 isput to use, the antenna change-over switch 8 is switched to theBluetooth side and, when the Bluetooth communication device 4 is not putto use, the antenna change-over switch 8 is switched to the radio LANside.

Moreover, in the above-described first embodiment, it is alsoappropriate that, in a case in which both the on/off switches 3 a and 3b of the switching/selection screen 3A are set at the off-states so asnot to use both the communication devices 4 and 5, the CPU 1 switchesthe antenna change-over switch 8 to the Bluetooth side for connectingthe antenna 6 to the Bluetooth communication device 4 and switches theantenna change-over switch 8 to the radio LAN side for connecting theantenna 6 to the radio LAN communication device 5.

[2] Description of Second Embodiment

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an informationprocessing apparatus (communication apparatus) having an antennaswitching function according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention. A notebook personal computer (information processingapparatus, communication apparatus) 100B according to the secondembodiment, shown in FIG. 4, comprises a CPU 1, an inputting device 2, adisplay device 3, a Bluetooth communication unit 4, a radio LANcommunication unit 5, antennas 6, 7 and an antenna change-over switch 8as well as the notebook personal computer 100A according to the firstembodiment, and further comprises an antenna change-over switch 8A.

In FIG. 4, the same reference numerals as those used above designate thesame or almost same parts, and the description thereof will be omitted.Moreover, as in the case of the notebook personal computer 100, thenotebook personal computer 100B according to the second embodiment alsohas two housings (display unit 100 a including a display panel and amain body 100 b including a keyboard and others), and these housings areconnected through a hinge to each other to be rotatable so that thenotebook personal computer 100B is foldable owing to the hinge.Moreover, as well as the notebook personal computer 100 shown in FIG. 6,also in the notebook personal computer 100B, two antennas 6 and 7 areinternally placed at a position keeping a satisfactory line-of-sightdistance from the apparatus, concretely, on both the right and leftsides of an upper portion of a display unit 100 a (display device 3) ofthe notebook personal computer 100B.

The antenna change-over switch 8 is located between the communicationdevices 4 and 5, while the antenna change-over switch (switching unit)8A is located between the communication devices 4, 5 and the antenna 7for carrying out the switching-connection of the antenna 7 to one of thecommunication devices 4 and 5. In this antenna change-over switch 8A,the Y terminal is connected through an antenna line 16A to the antenna 7and the SEL terminal is connected through an antenna switching signalline 21 to the CPU 1, while the A terminal is connected through aBluetooth RF signal line 13 to the Bluetooth communication device 5 andthe B terminal is connected through a radio LAN second RF signal line 15to the radio LAN communication device 5. As well as the antennachange-over switch 8, this antenna change-over switch 8A is placed inthe main body 100 b and the antenna line 16A to be connected thereto islocated in the display unit 100 a and connected to the antenna 7 locatedin the same unit 100 a.

This antenna change-over switch 8A is made to, in accordance with anantenna switching signal from the CPU 1, conduct the switching to one ofa state in which the A terminal and the Y terminal are connected to eachother (state in which the Bluetooth communication device 4 is connectedto the antenna 7) and a state in which the B terminal and the Y terminalare connected to each other (state in which the radio LAN communicationdevice 5 is connected to the antenna 7). The antenna switching signalline 21 is for giving an instruction on the switching to the antennachange-over switch 8A with High (high level)/Low (low level) of asignal, and the antenna change-over switch 8A makes a connection betweenthe A terminal and the Y terminal when the signal shows High and makes aconnection between the B terminal and the Y terminal when Low.

Furthermore, the CPU 1 according to the second embodiment is forcontrolling/managing the notebook personal computer 100B while executingvarious types of programs and, particularly, functions as a switchingcontrol unit which is a characteristic function of the second embodimentof the present invention.

The function as the switching control unit according to the secondembodiment is designed to control the antenna change-over switches 8 and8A for connecting the antenna 6 (or 7) to be used by the radio LANcommunication device 5 having the diversity function to the radio LANcommunication device 5 through the use of the antenna change-over switch8 (or 8A) and further for connecting the other antenna 7 (or 6), whichis not used by the radio LAN communication device 5, to the Bluetoothcommunication device 4 through the use of the antenna change-over switch8A (or 8). That is, in the second embodiment, the antenna 6 or 7, whichis not used by the radio LAN communication device 5 with the diversityfunction, is automatically allocated to the Bluetooth communicationdevice 4.

As in the case of the first embodiment, a dedicated software (antennaswitching control program) for the realization of the functions as theswitching control unit according to the second embodiment can bepresented in a state recorded on a computer-readable recording mediumsuch as flexible disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW or DVD, or it can also bepresented from a storage unit such as magnetic disk, optical disk ormagneto optical disk through a communication line to the computer (CPU1).

In addition, with reference to a flow chart (steps S21 to S29) of FIG.5, a description will be given hereinbelow of an antenna switchingcontrol procedure (operation of the switching control unit to berealized by the CPU 1 which executes the antenna switching controlprogram) in the notebook personal computer 100B thus configuredaccording to the second embodiment.

As described above, the notebook personal computer 100B according to thesecond embodiment is equipped with the two antennas 6 and 7, the radioLAN communication device 5 having the diversity function on both theantennas 6 and 7, and the Bluetooth communication device 4 made to carryout the radio data communication through the use of only one of theantennas 6 and 7.

Moreover, in a state of no use of the Bluetooth communication device 4,as well as the first embodiment, both the antennas 6 and 7 are connectedto the radio LAN communication device 5 (step S28 from NO route of stepS21, and step S29) and, in the radio LAN communication device 5, theradio LAN communication control unit 5 a conducts the radio datacommunication while carrying out the switching-connection of the antenna6 (or 7) of the two antennas 6 and 7, which has a lower error rate,through the diversity change-over switch 5 c to the transceiver 5 b.

In this state, when the Bluetooth communication device 4 is activated(YES route of step S21), the CPU 1 reads out an using antenna status(information on an REF signal the radio LAN communication device 5 isusing) in a radio module to confirm which of the two antennas 6 and 7the radio LAN communication device 5 is using (step S22).

If the antenna 6 is in use (YES route of step S23), the CPU 1 switchesthe antenna change-over switch 8A to the Bluetooth side to make aconnection between the antenna 7 and the Bluetooth communication device4 (step S24) and, with respect to the antenna change-over switch 8,continuously maintains the state switched to the radio LAN side (stateof the employment of the radio LAN communication device 5 and theantenna 6) (step S25).

On the other hand, if the antenna 7 is in use (NO route of step S23),the CPU 1 continuously maintains the antenna change-over switch 8A inthe state switched to the radio LAN side (state of the use of the radioLAN communication device 5 and the antenna 7) (step S26) and switchesthe antenna change-over switch 8 to the Bluetooth side to make aconnection between the antenna 6 and the Bluetooth communication device4 (step S27).

In addition, if the Bluetooth communication device 4 is turned off (NOroute of step S21), both the antenna change-over switches 8 and 8A areswitched to the radio LAN side to make the connection of both theantenna 6 and 7 with the radio LAN communication device 5 (steps S28 andS29).

Thus, the antenna 6 or 8 which is not used by the radio LANcommunication device 5 having the diversity function can automaticallybe allocated to the Bluetooth communication device 4. Accordingly, it ispossible to prevent the antenna the radio LAN communication device 5 isusing from being disconnected in error, thereby reliably preventing thedegradation of the performance due to the deterioration of thecommunication quality.

As described above, with the notebook personal computer (portableinformation processing apparatus) 100B according to the secondembodiment of the present invention, when the Bluetooth communicationdevice 4 is put to use, the antenna change-over switches 8 and 8Aundergo the switching control so that the antenna 6 or 7, which is notused by the radio LAN communication device 5 having the diversityfunction which can control the two antennas, is connected to theBluetooth communication device 4. Therefore, a satisfactory antennaradiation characteristic is securable at all times in the radio LANcommunication device 5 and the radio data communication can be conductedby the Bluetooth communication device 4 while preventing the degradationof the performance stemming from the deterioration of the communicationquality.

Also with the notebook personal computer 100B according to the secondembodiment, as well as the notebook personal computer 100A according tothe first embodiment, the two antennas 6 and 7 internally included in anupper portion of the display unit 100 b can be used while keeping asufficient physical distance, thus achieving a sufficient communicationperformance (communication distance) without receiving the influence ofthe material of a desk or the like, particularly at the employment ofthe Bluetooth, while preventing the deterioration of the signal/noiseratio.

[3] Others

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments,and it is intended to cover all changes of the embodiments herein whichdo not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For example, although in the above description of the embodiments thepresent invention is applied to a notebook personal computer equippedwith two types of communication modes of the radio LAN and theBluetooth, the present invention is not limited to this but, as well asthe above-described embodiments, it is also applicable to a case ofthree or more types of communication modes, a case of various types ofcommunication modes (for example, communication modes based on acommunication module of the third generation portable telephone) otherthan the radio LAN and the Bluetooth, and information processingapparatus [for example, small-sized portable information processingapparatus such as PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)] other than notebookpersonal computers, which can achieve the same effects as those of theabove-described embodiments.

Furthermore, the communication devices according to the presentinvention is not limited to the communication devices made to carry outthe data communications like the above-described embodiments but it canalso be communication devices for conversations. Still furthermore, theinformation processing apparatus can also be an apparatus having a shapein which a display unit and a main body are accommodated in one housing(for example, single housing such as a pen computer), instead of theconstruction in which two housings connected through an hinge asmentioned in the above-described embodiments.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, according to the present invention, in a case inwhich, for example, a communication unit based on a differentcommunication mode (for example, Bluetooth) is provided in addition to acommunication unit having a diversity function, the number ofcommunication units is equalized with the number of antennas so that theplurality of communication units can simultaneously carry outtransmission/reception without increasing the number of antennas, andthe diversity function can sufficiently be utilized in the case of nouse of a portion of the communication units.

Therefore, the present invention is suitable for use in an informationprocessing apparatus such as a notebook type personal computer, forexample, having Bluetooth and radio LAN, and it is considered that itsavailability is extremely high.

1. An information processing apparatus with an antenna switchingfunction, comprising: a plurality of antennas; a plurality ofcommunication units each made to carry out a radio communication; aswitching unit made to switch connection states between said pluralityof antennas and said plurality of communication units; and a switchingcontrol unit for controlling said switching unit to switch saidconnection states, at least one of said plurality of communication unitshaving a diversity function whereby said plurality of antennas arecontrollable, and said switching control unit controlling said switchingunit so that said antennas other than the antenna to be used by saidcommunication unit having the diversity function are connected to thecommunication units other than said communication unit.
 2. Theinformation processing apparatus with an antenna switching functionaccording to claim 1, wherein a movable side housing and a fixed sidehousing are rotatably connected to be foldable, and said plurality ofantennas are provided in an upper portion of said movable side housingin a state opened.
 3. A communication apparatus with an antennaswitching function, comprising a plurality of antennas and a pluralityof communication units each made to carry out a radio communication,comprising a switching unit for switching connection states between saidplurality of antennas and said plurality of communication units and aswitching control unit for controlling said switching unit to switch theconnection states, wherein at least one of said plurality ofcommunication units has a diversity function whereby said plurality ofantennas are controllable, and said switching control unit controls saidswitching unit so that the antennas other than said antenna to be usedby said communication unit having said diversity function are connectedto the communication units other than said communication unit.
 4. Anantenna switching control unit, which is used for an apparatuscomprising a plurality of antennas, a plurality of communication unitseach made to carry out a radio communication and a switching unit madeto switch connection states between said plurality of antennas and saidplurality of communication units and which is made to control saidswitching unit to switch said connection states, controlling saidswitching unit so that the antennas other than said antenna to be usedby said communication unit having a diversity function whereby saidplurality of antennas are controllable are connected to thecommunication units other than said communication unit.
 5. Acomputer-readable recording medium recording an antenna switchingcontrol program, which makes a computer function as an antenna switchingcontrol unit to, in an apparatus comprising a plurality of antennas, aplurality of communication units each made to carry out a radiocommunication and a switching unit made to switch connection statesbetween said plurality of antennas and said plurality of communicationunits, control said switching unit to switch said connection states,wherein said antenna switching control program makes said computercontrol said switching unit so that the antennas other than said antennato be used by said communication unit having a diversity functionwhereby said plurality of antennas are controllable are connected to thecommunication units other than said communication unit.